The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-08-10
CONCERNING soMERsAULTs.
How the Double Somersault Was In
troduced Forty Years Ago.

Democrat.
The difficult and graceful feat of turning
o double somersault-never executed. it is
asserted, till within the past one hundred
vears-can now be witnessed at almost
every flrst-class circus performance in this
country. Forty years ago the British or
Continental performer who could throw
double somersault was looked upon as a
wonder. The writer, some thirty-seven
years ago, saw Tomkinson, a famous
British clown and acrobat, execute
+his feat in Franconi's circus, then
stationed for the season at
Edinburgh, Scotland. 1t was the same
Franconi who afterward managed the Hip
nodrome in New York in 1851, and the
company was looked on as first-class in
every respect. The double somersault was
performed by Tomkinson at his benefit, and
The announcement of the then great feat
packed the wooden building to suffocation
When the ring-maSter had made the pre-
Iminary speech, and Tompkins retired up
the steep incline which terminated in
the spring-board, every heart stood
still A quick, inpetuous rush
down the board, a bound high in the
air, slow revolution, and the
gvmnast descended nearly to the cushion
Ii seemed impossible to do it, but in the last
six feet the curled-up body revolved once
more and Tomkinson alighted on the big
soft mattress on his feet, but staggering. He
was prevented from falling by the ring mas
ter. and as he returned to leave the ring
Franconi enthusiastically patted him on the
back while the vast audience roared their
applause. 1t was a rare feat in those days,
and TOmkinson and the few other double
somersault performers in Europe did it only
at infrequent intervals.
One of the first performers of the double
somersault in this country was James Madi-
gan who was attached to his fathers old
Hank Madigan's) circus in the fiftles. He
has still the reputation of being the finest
performer that ever executed this feat. AS
rule other performers stagger when they
alight on their feet, and are assisted by one
or more attaches when they are in danger
of losing their perpendicular, But Madigan
did it perfectly every time. Dan Costello,
a noted circus leaper, made it more difficult
by clearing a number of horses at the
same time But soon q number of acrobats
were able 10 follow his example and excel
him in height and distance. Nowadays a
circus acrobat who cannot do a double SOM
ersault is not considered anything but an
ordinary performer, unless he can do other
sensational or dangerous feats. In 1881
BaTnum had a corps of acrobats of whom
seven turned double somersaultS every night
during the season. The circusses of Fore
paugh. Robinson, Sells Brother, Cole, Frank
A. Robbins and Burr Robbins always con-
tain acrObats capable of doing this feat
AN UNExCELLED FEAT.
The most surprising and unexcelled feat
of double somersault throwing was that af
Robert Garnella of the Garnella Brothers,
who performed in Variety Halls and cir
Cuses some eight or ten years ago. Stand
ing on his brothers shoulders, Robert sprang
up and revolved backward twice, landing
on the shoulders with his feet When it is
considered that the double somersault by
other performers is accomplished by a short
run which gives momentum, a spring board
which materially adds the upward bound,
and no restriction as to the point of alight-
ing the feat by young Garnella must be
claSsed among the unprecedented marvels
of the acrObaGic art.
This great feat is the dream of the young
and ambitious acrobat 1t requires phe-
nomenal dexterity of body, and is known to
be so dangerous that few have even at
tempted it, Fame and fortune await any
performer who can do it, say twenty times
in one tenting season. Were it not that cir
Gus managers believe that the feat, or even
the attempt, repeated limited number of
times, will certainly result in broken neck,
they could well afford to pay the performer
$4,000 to 500, 900 for a season. Weren't not
a proved fact it would seem that the laws
of gravitation and the limitations of
physical dexterity forbade the turning of
triple somersault. TO turn double sorner-
sault from a spring board it is necessary to
make leap at an angle of about 30 to
obtain the necessary ballast or impetus,
TO turn twice IF an almost perpendicular
leap is made the acrobat would not have
leverage enough TO turn. In order to accom-
plish the double the performer has to leap
from the spring board with all his might to
get the proper angle as well as to attain
sufficient height 50 that he may have time
to turn twice before alighting. The same
conditions govern the triple somersault,
only that it is necessary to go about one
third higher in the air.
TRIPLE SoMERSAULTS.
1t was said few years ago that with the
exception of Sam Reinhardt, of Columbus,
the famous Bob Stickney, and an English
Ieaper whose name has escaped my memory,
no gymnast in America had sufficient power
TO leap higher than was necessary to accom-
plish double. Not that these three men
could at that, or any other time, accom-
pllsh triple somersaultS at will, but they
could do more than a double. The skeptic
may say triple somersaults may be accom-
phshed by the aid of higher and more
powerful spring boards than those in
use, but first-class performers say that these
would merely change the angle, and the re-
suit would be the same. OF course, the
board could be placed high enough, but the
specific gravity of the performers body
would be inceeased in descending. The
height is not the only trouble If it were
only height such men as Stickney, by inn
proved appliances and practice, would over
come that difficulty. But after the body
has turned twice the performer closes his
CATCH" or control of his body, and the law
OF gravitation overcomes bodily deXterity.
Ills head being heavier than his feet, he is
apt to light on it first and break his neck.
The first remembered attempt to throw
triple somersault in this country was by
performer in Van Amburgh's circus in Mo
bile, Ala, in 1912 He fell on his head and
broke his neck. Another attempt was made
IN London, Eng, in 1916. 1t was made in
Astley's Amphitheatre, then leased to Howe
and Cushing, the American managers. In
the company were Mr.. |. Lipman, fine
vauter, now i'll Cincinnati; the late Levi j.
North, famous equestrian; the late VIII
Lam o. Dale, an acrobat and equestrian,
VINO afterward lost his sight and died at Gin
elnnati, and William l. Hobbes a champion
Ieaper. 1t was previously announced that
Hobbies would attempt O triple, and the
house was jammed He tried it and was in
stantly killed.
OTHER FATALITIES.
The next to attempt the dangerous feat
was John Amor, who was born i'll the home
OF Dan Itice's father, near Girard, Pa.
Amor Travelled for years in this country
H.. -. 49, laxv